Threats to biodiversity and environment
Like many other biomes existent on this Earth, many have natural and/or artificial threats. In the barren biomes, surrounding ice atmosphere, many of the issues are revolved around melting ice capsules and the cold temperatures.
Many of the threats to Tundra include:
- Future doubts for native fauna or flora of the Tundra if the Permafrost ever melts. This would cause major problems as it increases the chances of global warming and many landscape features will be affected.
- Lichen's are very prone to air pollution, this can cause them to become very sick or die. Their extinction or decrease in numbers will impact on other species as they are dependent off lichens.
- The ozone consumption in the north and south hemisphere indicates a higher level of ultraviolet rays that impacts the Tundra.
- High levels of CO2 consumption creates an unhealthy atmosphere for animals and population.
- An increase in pests causes overpopulation decreasing the numbers of vegetation.
A discussion of the extent to which human activity has impacted this particular biome.
The impacts to the Arctic Tundra made by human activity is commonly done without knowledge. Many of the things that regions surrounding the biomes done by the humans cause negative issues to the environment. These things include, the pollution and uses of many omitted gases such as Carbon dioxide and also oil spills.
In particular, new buildings or existing buildings are applying pressure to the permafrost, this causes the layer to melt. Consequently, other issues will start to occur if vegetation or plants have already adapted to the frozen layer of subsoil. Despite being kilometres away, pollution, explorations of gases, minerals and many oils from lower latitudes (cities below) eventually flow up onto the Tundra, in a higher latitude. Evidentially, this causes many problems especially interference with native species and cause habitats to become affected. Even constructions of roads on and off the biome effect the Arctic in many ways.
Compared to rain forests, the Arctic Tundra does not face problems such as deforestation and such. Most of the threats towards the Tundra are mostly revolved around global warming especially due to the Permafrost and weather, the atmosphere is affected mostly due to the pollution and use of oils.
Permafrost melting Oil spills that may occur in the Tundra The Musk Oxen that are at risk due to threats made by humans.